Putin May Recognize Breakaway Regions Of Ukraine

Reuters reports:

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he was considering a request by two regions of eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists to be recognised as independent – a move that could give Moscow a reason to openly send troops.

Ukraine and the West consider the rebels controlling the two small eastern regions to be Russia’s proxies, and have been warning for weeks that Moscow might use them to fabricate a case for war.

Former president Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said it was “obvious” that Ukraine did not need the two regions, and that a majority of Russians would support their independence.

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— ABC News (@ABC) February 21, 2022

President Biden and President Vladimir Putin have “accepted the principle” of a meeting to be held some time after Thursday, the French presidency said, “on the condition that Russia does not invade Ukraine.”

Follow updates on the Ukraine crisis. https://t.co/WhBM5eRuIX

— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 21, 2022

More Sullivan, this time on ABC: “All signs look like President Putin and the Russians are proceeding with a plan to execute a major military invasion of Ukraine. We have seen just in the last 24 hours further moves of Russian units to the border…getting in position to attack.”

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 21, 2022